NAC International Inc. (NAC) has announced that it has received regulatory approval from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for its patented OPTIMUS®-L packaging system to transport High Activity Radioactive Sources (HARS). This certification enhances the capabilities of our already versatile OPTIMUS® systems, which are fabricated and licensed to transport a range of radioactive materials from HALEU (high assay low-enriched uranium) fuel to used fuel from nuclear power plants.
The OPTIMUS-L system’s expanded capacity to transport high-activity sources in a wide range of environments opens the door for NAC to provide more cost-effective transportation and disposal options for our customers. The NRC approval effective April 30, 2025 enables NAC to transport shielded sealed source devices used in a wide variety of applications using the OPTIMUS-L system (packaging and contents).
This certification represents an advancement in NAC’s mission to provide safe, efficient, and scalable solutions for the transportation of radioactive materials. The OPTIMUS-L system is now licensed to carry a broader range of high-activity contents, including sealed sources such as Cesium-137 and Cobalt-60, widely used in medical, industrial, and research applications.
A New Standard in High Activity Source Transport
The OPTIMUS-L system, originally developed to support the shielded transport of lower dose radioactive waste, now supports higher activity materials through a Phase II development program. In response to industry demand for a compact, lightweight, and modular Type B(U)F package, NAC enhanced the system’s capabilities with a novel licensing approach that takes into account the shielding provided by sealed source devices themselves.
This innovation enables OPTIMUS-L to safely transport high activity sources without requiring additional external shielding. This is ideal for use in constrained environments such as hospital loading docks, laboratories, and urban facilities without extensive overhead lifting capability.
The enhanced OPTIMUS-L system accommodates up to 2,800 curies of Cesium-137 and 5 curies of Cobalt-60, with a thermal load of approximately 13.5 watts, well within the system’s 50-watt limit. These capabilities are validated through rigorous structural, thermal, and shielding analyses, including dynamic simulations and MCNP6.2 modeling, ensuring full compliance with NRC safety requirements under both normal transportation conditions and hypothetical accident conditions.
Operational Flexibility and Efficiency
NAC’s OPTIMUS Type B systems are designed for maximum adaptability to transport a wide range of radioactive materials. The OPTIMUS®-H license accommodates high activity contents such as spent nuclear fuel and remote-handled transuranic waste. OPTIMUS-L can be used for lower activity contents such as contact-handled transuranic waste, High-Assay Low-Enriched Uranium (HALEU), and mixed low-level radioactive waste. OPTIMUS-H and OPTIMUS-L offer numerous operational advantages over traditional large format Type B packages:
- Compact footprint (49 inches in diameter, 9,200 pounds) compared to larger systems typically used to transport high-activity sources
- Modular design allows for scalable deployment and simplified logistics
- Common Cask Containment Vessel across OPTIMUS-H and -L systems standardize operations and reduce training requirements
- Forklift compatible pallets enable quick and safe loading and unloading. This eliminates the need for overhead rigging infrastructure or mobile cranes
- Certified for use in both the U.S. and Canada, expanding its applicability across North America
- Designed to meet IAEA-SSR-6 criteria, for ease of Competent Authority approval in your country
These features make the OPTIMUS-L particularly well-suited for the retrieval, replacement, and disposal of disused sealed sources, especially in facilities that no longer wish to maintain a radioactive materials license or are transitioning to newer technologies.
Supporting a Safer, More Adaptable Nuclear Industry
The OPTIMUS product line reflects NAC’s commitment to innovation and adaptability in the nuclear sector. By offering a flexible, high-performance solution for transporting a wide range of radioactive materials including intermediate level waste, transuranic waste, and irradiated components, NAC is modernizing the infrastructure that supports nuclear safety, research, and energy development.
NAC continues to expand the OPTIMUS-L licensing basis to include additional sealed source configurations and shielded irradiator devices, enhancing its versatility and reinforcing NAC’s position as the premier provider for nuclear materials lifecycle management solutions.
For more information about NAC’s OPTIMUS transportation systems visit: https://www.nacintl.com/solutions/transportation/transportation-systems/optimus
It is clear nuclear energy is experiencing global resurgence, as countries look to meet growing demand with a reliable source that helps provide energy security and meet climate targets. And interest in the sector is not limited to those countries which already have nuclear.
NAC International (NAC) has been awarded a new contract from CGNPC Uranium Resources Co Ltd (CGNPC-URC) in China for the fabrication and supply of 10 NAC-STC Transportation Casks. This order will add to the 10 NAC-STC Transportation Cask systems already being utilized by CGNPC-URC in China and supports CGNPC-URC’s and NAC’s mutual objective of facilitating safe and reliable transportation of used nuclear fuel in support of China’s fuel backend program.
The NAC-STC Transportation systems will primarily be fabricated in Japan by NAC’s parent company, Kanadevia Corporation, and will also include specific local fabrication in China in support of NAC’s efforts to localize and grow in the Asia region. Delivery of all systems will occur by the end of 2028.
“This achievement supports our customer’s need for continued proven and safe transport of used commercial fuel and is an important step in positioning NAC’s role in the global nuclear market,” said Kent Cole, President and CEO of NAC International.
Peachtree Corners, GA - NAC International (NAC), a world-leading service provider who is helping the carbon-free nuclear industry successfully implement environmentally friendly integrated fuel cycle and waste management solutions, has unveiled a new Small Modular Reactor (SMR) and Advanced Reactor (AR) support program. This initiative positions NAC as the essential partner for developers in the rapidly evolving landscape of next-generation nuclear energy, including micro reactors and other innovative designs.
NAC International is hosting another round of two popular semi-annual training seminars—Nuclear Fuel Cycle Seminar and Spent Fuel Academy—at NAC headquarters in Atlanta. The Nuclear Fuel Cycle Seminar, focused on the commercial and technical aspects of each step of the nuclear fuel cycle, is scheduled to take place November 5-8, 2024. The Spent Fuel Academy, focused on various aspects of managing used nuclear fuel, will be held January 28-30, 2025.
NAC International has recently made changes to the management team responsible for conducting the company’s Transportation Projects throughout the world.
NAC International Inc. (NAC) has worked closely with site contractor Central Plateau Cleanup Company (CPCCo) and the contractor’s predecessor to design, fabricate, and deliver 19 cask storage systems to the Department of Energy’s Hanford Site.
